Mikaela Shiffrin, recovering from a serious abdominal injury, is uncertain about her readiness to compete in the slalom at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria. Despite the challenges following her fall in November, she found success in the team combined event, winning gold. As she prepares for the slalom, Shiffrin acknowledges her struggle with expectations but remains determined to perform well, reflecting on the emotional toll and her desire to chase another medal.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s Comeback Journey at the World Ski Championships
In an unexpected twist, Mikaela Shiffrin, the reigning queen of skiing, is not vying for victory this Saturday during the slalom event at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria. Still on the mend from a serious abdominal injury, the 29-year-old athlete is set to compete, despite grappling with uncertainty about her readiness. “It should be simple; everyone wants to race in a world championship… Yet here I am, questioning whether I should participate in this or that race because I don’t feel prepared, either physically or mentally,” Shiffrin shared with the International Ski Federation, revealing her introspective struggle.
Facing Challenges and Embracing Resilience
Doubt has lingered for Shiffrin since her unfortunate fall on November 30 while chasing her historic 100th World Cup victory during the giant slalom in Killington, USA. The incident occurred when she struck an unidentified object, resulting in a serious abdominal injury that left her “impaled” at the oblique muscles. “It’s such a strange injury, not at all what people expect in skiing; no one really understood what was happening,” she reflected during an interview with Eurosport. The pain was overwhelming, and it took immense effort for her to prepare for the World Championships.
At one point, Shiffrin contemplated returning home, overwhelmed by doubts and a mental block in giant slalom that hindered her performance. “I think I’m just missing time; we tried to come back too quickly. Physically I’m fine, but I’m still struggling mentally when I pick up speed,” she admitted. Expressing the emotional toll, she mentioned, “I find myself crying without even understanding why,” attributing her feelings to a form of “post-traumatic stress.”
Ultimately, Shiffrin chose to remain in Saalbach, opting out of the giant slalom to compete in the newly introduced team combined event alongside her childhood friend Breezy Johnson. This decision proved fruitful as they secured gold together, with Shiffrin clocking the third fastest time in her run. “I was terrified, but I wanted to be there. These last two weeks, it’s something I hadn’t felt much,” she expressed in the mixed zone, highlighting how the team combined event shifted her mindset.
As she gears up for Saturday’s slalom, Shiffrin has tempered her expectations for a medal. With six medals to her name in this discipline, including four golds, she admits, “I feel so far from any medal this year; it’s a very strange position. I’m recovering while everyone else is ready to compete for a medal.” Nevertheless, Mikaela Shiffrin is prepared to give it her all, determined to channel her previous success into a medal chase. “It’s important for me to be here. I’m struggling to manage the expectations on me, but I will hold on to my good slalom run during the combined and try for a medal in slalom,” she concluded with determination, ready to face the challenge ahead.